Howzit Howard: HMSA and Kaiser Permanente

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - With some of their rate hikes kicking in January 1st, health care providers should do better in the first quarter, before rising costs start to catch up with new rates. But HMSA, spending more than $400 million on health care in the quarter, lost money on operations. A rebound in the stock market made its stock portfolio do better, but even so it had less than $2 million left over as it went into the quarter we're in now. Meanwhile, Kaiser Permanente, with almost a quarter million Hawaii customers, posted a small first quarter loss, roughly two-thirds of a million dollars. Revenue fell slightly, costs were cut by a few million. Each quarter Kaiser Hawaii spends hundreds of millions on health care.

The Star Bulletin reports the Navy has more than 250 IT openings in Norfolk, San Diego and Pearl Harbor, its three main computer centers. The Navy specifies recent college graduates are eligible for some openings.

Pacific Business News reports Margo Tahitian Pearl, formerly Tahiti Pearl Market, is opening next week in the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. It has another store at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza and one on Alakea Street.

Governor Lingle and the SBA honor Hawaii exporters today at the state capitol. Some of the honorees include Hamakua Nut Company, Maui Babe, Noni Biotech and Tradewinds Global.